I doubt we will ever see Alan Smithee accepting a Best Director Oscar. Apparently 100% of his work is shiate.

=]

Well even if were good, the DGA rules only allow a director to use that psuedonym when he feels like his work has been artisistically compromised by studio interference; therefore its a signal to the other directors in the academy not to reard that kind of meddling by voting for the film no matter how good.

browneye:Why do the Coen Brothers avoid credit for editing their own films?

While the Brothers claim they don't want their names appearing too many times in the credit because it would look awkward, I suspect union rules are at play. The film editors union probably has an agreement with the DGA that directors who are not members of the editors union cannot receive film credit for editing their films. And the editors union probably won't allow DGA directors to join their unions for fear that it will put editors out of work. Thus, DGA directors may edit their own films, but not receive formal recognition.

The great story about Dalton Trumbo was that after he found he couldn't collect his Oscar for the Brave Ones, he started assigning scripts to his friends, just in case, which is how he had a real person to send on stage to get the Roman Holiday Oscar.

Kirk Douglas finally got Trumbo off the Black List (and effectively ended it) by putting his real name on the titles for Spartacus. Douglas had enough pull in Hollywood to do it, and the studio didn't fight him.

thornhill:browneye: Why do the Coen Brothers avoid credit for editing their own films?

While the Brothers claim they don't want their names appearing too many times in the credit because it would look awkward, I suspect union rules are at play. The film editors union probably has an agreement with the DGA that directors who are not members of the editors union cannot receive film credit for editing their films. And the editors union probably won't allow DGA directors to join their unions for fear that it will put editors out of work. Thus, DGA directors may edit their own films, but not receive formal recognition.

My understanding is that is has to do with editing guild rules about co-editors, though they joke that it's because they get tired of seeing their names all over the credits.

thornhill:browneye: Why do the Coen Brothers avoid credit for editing their own films?

While the Brothers claim they don't want their names appearing too many times in the credit because it would look awkward, I suspect union rules are at play. The film editors union probably has an agreement with the DGA that directors who are not members of the editors union cannot receive film credit for editing their films. And the editors union probably won't allow DGA directors to join their unions for fear that it will put editors out of work. Thus, DGA directors may edit their own films, but not receive formal recognition.

It is, Steven Soderbergh does the same thing, using pseudonyms for editing and cinematography.

Only person I can think of that takes all those credits is Robert Rodriguez, but he left the DGA.

WhoIsWillo:My understanding is that is has to do with editing guild rules about co-editors, though they joke that it's because they get tired of seeing their names all over the credits.

For years, one of their problems was that the DGA wouldn't recognize co-directors on a film (though they would recognize more than one director if they worked sequentially). After the Coens pointed out what a shame that was and Rodriguez left the DGA, they changed their tune.

The one that actually bothers me is how often the real writer of a screenplay (the guy who does all the work) doesn't get credit because of arcane rules and a better-known screenwriter already being on the credits.